In the booklet for the Rivers Cuomo's demo compilation album Alone, Cuomo describes how the song "This Is the Way" was originally going to be used for the Red Album over "Dreamin'", then called "Daydreamer". Eventually, Cuomo was able to persuade other band members to choose the "epic, 6-minute, symphonic type of art song" Dreamin' instead.
Brian Bell has commented that this song was written in the sonata form and the breakdown of the song has a formal name ("The Dream Sequence") and that it is his proudest moment on the record.
The song was released as a downloadable song for the game Rock Band along with the songs "Troublemaker" and "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived."
Dreamin'
Weezer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm dreamin'
In the mornin'
I'm dreamin' all
Through the night
And when I'm dreamin'
I know
That it's all right
I'm dreamin'
In the evening
I'm dreamin'
All through the day
And when I'm dreamin'
I know that it's okay
Woo, hoo, hoa
Daddy says
I've gotta pay
Some bills
So I can learn
To be responsible
Some day I'll have
A family of my own
And they
Will need for me
To be full grown
[Chorus]
Teacher says
I gotta learn some facts
So I can make it in
The Widener Stacks
These are days
That will define my life
I shouldn't waste them
On these friends of mine
But I
Gotta be a big boy
(Cause I really want a chance)
Gotta pick up my toys
(Cause I really want a chance)
When I start to feel
The feeling comin' over me
(I really want a chance)
I soon forget
All about responsibility
(I really want a chance)
I walk around
In a wide-awake daydream
(I really want a chance)
Things are better out here
Than they might seem
There are bluebirds
In the meadows
And the bees
Are flying around
And the gosling's
At the river
At a loss so far
From the ground
I am running
(I am running)
Through the meadow
(Through the meadow)
And the sun is
(And the sun is)
Shining on me
(Shining on me)
I am singing
(I am singing)
My voice is ringing
(My voice is ringing)
I can sing so loud
(I can sing so loud)
And the angels
(And the angels)
In the heavens
(In the heavens)
They are wondering
(They are wondering)
"Why am I so glad?"
(Why am I so glad?)
"Why am I so glad?"
(Why am I so glad?)
"Why am I so"
(Why am I so)
"Why am I so"
(Why am I so)
I am running
(I am running)
Through the meadow
(Through the meadow)
And the sun is
(And the sun is)
Shining on me
(Shining on me)
I am singing
(I am singing)
My voice is ringing
(My voice is ringing)
I can sing so loud
(I can sing so loud)
[Chorus]
I don't want to get
With your program
I don't want to get
With your program
I don't want to get
With your program
Take back the love
The lyrics to Weezer's song Dreamin' express a desire for freedom from the responsibilities and expectations of adulthood. The chorus reveals the singer's preference for the dream world, where anything is possible and everything is okay. The verses depict the pressures and demands of a conventional life, with references to bills, responsibility, and the need to learn and grow up. The singer longs to escape these demands and return to a simpler, more carefree existence. The bridge seems to embody this desire, with its joyous depiction of running through a meadow and singing with abandon. The final line, "Take back the love," may be a plea to return to a time when love and freedom were not compromised by the demands of adult life.
Overall, the song is an ode to the innocent pleasures of childhood and a longing to escape the responsibilities and restrictions of the adult world. It speaks to the universal desire for freedom and the lure of daydreams and fantasy.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm dreamin' In the mornin' I'm dreamin' all Through the night And when I'm dreamin' I know That it's all right Woo, hoo, hoa I'm dreamin' In the evening I'm dreamin' All through the day And when I'm dreamin' I know that it's okay Woo, hoo, hoa
The singer dreams all day and night, and it makes them feel okay despite the pressures of responsibilities and growing up.
Daddy says I've gotta pay Some bills So I can learn To be responsible Some day I'll have A family of my own And they Will need for me To be full grown
The singer's father tells him that he must pay his bills and be responsible so he can eventually have a family that depends on him and he must be mature enough to support them.
Teacher says I gotta learn some facts So I can make it in The Widener Stacks These are days That will define my life I shouldn't waste them On these friends of mine
The singer's teacher tells him that he needs to learn the facts to succeed in life, and these days are what will define his life, so he must not waste them with his friends.
But I Gotta be a big boy (Cause I really want a chance) Gotta pick up my toys (Cause I really want a chance) When I start to feel The feeling comin' over me (I really want a chance) I soon forget All about responsibility (I really want a chance) I walk around In a wide-awake daydream Things are better out here Than they might seem
The artist knows he should be responsible and grow up, but he tells himself that he wants a chance to pursue his dreams, so he forgets all about his responsibilities and walks around daydreaming instead.
There are bluebirds In the meadows And the bees Are flying around And the gosling's At the river At a loss so far From the ground
In the artist's daydream, he sees bluebirds, bees, and a gosling at the river, far away from the realities of life.
I am running (I am running) Through the meadow (Through the meadow) And the sun is (And the sun is) Shining on me (Shining on me) I am singing (I am singing) My voice is ringing (My voice is ringing) I can sing so loud (I can sing so loud) And the angels (And the angels) In the heavens (In the heavens) They are wondering (They are wondering) "Why am I so glad?" (Why am I so glad?) "Why am I so glad?" (Why am I so glad?) "Why am I so" (Why am I so) "Why am I so" (Why am I so) I am running (I am running) Through the meadow (Through the meadow) And the sun is (And the sun is) Shining on me (Shining on me) I am singing (I am singing) My voice is ringing (My voice is ringing) I can sing so loud (I can sing so loud)
In the singer's daydream, he is running through a meadow, singing loudly, and the angels in the heavens wonder why he's so happy and carefree.
I don't want to get With your program I don't want to get With your program I don't want to get With your program Take back the love
The singer rebels against the societal expectation of growing up and being responsible, they want to take back the love and pursue their dreams.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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